Sir Richard Branson on Ending the war on drugs, the challenges and opportunities ahead

Last week’s Vienna meeting of the UN’s Commission on Narcotic Drugs was an important stepping stone on the road to 2016, when world leaders will come together in New York to discuss drug policy in a special session of the UN General Assembly, also known as the UNGASS.

As dry as these diplomatic gatherings appear, they play a key role in our effort to end the war on drugs; try new approaches to drug policy that reduce harm; end the criminalisation of drug users and keep non-violent drug offenders out of prison; and treat drugs overall as a health issue. 

If all goes well, the UNGASS may set the stage for a first-ever, evidence-based review of those devastating policies that have caused so much unnecessary suffering.

Part of the struggle is that many countries shy away from any kind of reform effort, fearful of challenging the status quo and violating the...

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